The Patriots have the second round's No. 43 pick by virtue of the Garoppolo trade October 30. He started all 16 games in 2016 and 10 a year ago before succumbing to a torn labrum.

This trade is the second one the Patriots and 49ers have made in the last six months.

With Brown gone, the Niners still have stalwart Joe Staley at left tackle. The Patriots traded the 117th overall pick as well as their own pick at No. 63 in order to move up to get the No. 56 overall pick.

Asked after that pick whether Brown was a potential trade candidate, Kyle Shanahan passed the question over to John Lynch. As Nick Caserio, the Patriots' director of player personel said on Thursday night, "Our whole philosophy on the whole offensive line is that we'll put the best five guys out there and however it sorts itself out, it'll sort itself out". "Right now, we're pleased to have great competition at that spot".